Scotland Elections

In a historic ballot that will reshape British politics for years to come, Scotland and Wales elected local governments Thursday that will take over control of their domestic affairs from London. The election of the first Scottish parliament in nearly 300 years and of the Welsh National Assembly, which will have more limited powers, is part of British Prime Minister Tony Blair's policy to decentralize control and stave off moves for independence that could break up the United Kingdom.

In a historic ballot that will reshape British politics for years to come, Scotland and Wales elected local governments Thursday that will take over control of their domestic affairs from London. The election of the first Scottish parliament in nearly 300 years and of the Welsh National Assembly, which will have more limited powers, is part of British Prime Minister Tony Blair's policy to decentralize control and stave off moves for independence that could break up the United Kingdom.

When is a country a country? Scotland has its own legal and educational systems, its own national museums and soccer leagues. It has a border with England--unchanged for centuries--and today, Scotland will elect its first parliament in nearly 300 years. The Scots even call their land a country, but it is not an independent state.

When is a country a country? Scotland has its own legal and educational systems, its own national museums and soccer leagues. It has a border with England--unchanged for centuries--and today, Scotland will elect its first parliament in nearly 300 years. The Scots even call their land a country, but it is not an independent state.

The ruling Conservative Party reeled Friday after being shut out in Scotland's local elections--a disastrous loss that threatens the party leadership of Prime Minister John Major. In voting Thursday, the Conservatives failed to win control of any of 29 new city councils and took only 79 of 1,100 available council seats. The opposition Labor Party, by contrast, took 20 councils, while Scottish nationalists and independents split the rest.